Members of the Parañaque Veterinary Services Office yesterday seized 715 kilograms of “mishandled meat” products.
City veterinary office chief Dr. Karen Vicencio said the meat items were confiscated in a random check at the La Huerta Public Market, resulting in five delivery boys being held for questioning.
Vicencio said one of the boys was asked why the meat products he was delivering were loaded into a rusted sidecar and were exposed and uncovered.
Another delivery man, Vicencio said, was also stopped after inspectors found him carrying frozen products like chicken, pork, beef and carabeef.
Vicencio said the man claimed he was about to deliver the meat products to the Pasay City public market.
The CVSO head said they confiscated the meat products as improper handling and transportation can cause zoonotic or animal ailments like hand, foot and mouth disease that may be transmitted to humans when eaten.
The delivery boys also did not have the necessary permits to be transporting the meat products, she added. The confiscated meat was incinerated.
The public was advised by the city government of Parañaque to ensure that meat vendors have meat inspection certificates before buying from them.